Scaffold support



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1958 INVENTO'R. RE/NHART RICHTER ATTORNEY May 16,4961 R. RICHTER 2,984,446

SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Filed July 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PE/NHA RT R/cHTE/a "54am? I41 ATTO EY United States Patent O SCAFFOLD SUPPORT Reinhart Richter, 201 E. 71st, Merrillville, Ind.

Filed July 14, 1958, Ser. No. 748,268

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-238) This invention relates generally to scafiold equipment and more particularly is directed to a device or assembly adapted to be mounted on a ladder for supporting a plank or platform.

It is recognized that various devices have heretofore been utilized for this purpose. Some of the devices are too heavy and cumbersome for convenient manipulation while others, for example, are either too unstable or intricate in design and construction for efficient use. Also, such devices are usually constructed so that they can only be attached to a ladder of the rung or step type and not both types.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the subject invention is to provide a supporting assembly embodying improved principles of design and construction which may be readily adjusted for use with either a ladder of the rung or step type. Although reference is being made to a device or assembly it is to be understood that a pair of the assemblies are utilized for attachment to a pair of ladders for supporting the ends of a plank.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide an assembly which offers advantages with respect to economy in manufacture and assembly, durability, manipulatability, stability, strength and efficiency.

A significant object of the invention is to provide an assembly which may be readily attached to a rung type of ladder for projection from one side thereof for supporting a plank between the ladder and a building or other abutment against which the ladder rests or for projection from its other side for supporting a plank or platform.

An important object of the invention is to provide an assembly which may be easily attached to a stepladder to support a plank or platform within the confines or uprights of the ladder or exteriorly thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the assembly operatively connected to steps adjacent the top of a stepladder for supporting a plank or platform exteriorly of the ladder;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the ladder, on a reduced scale, showing the assembly adjusted for operative connection with the ladder in positions lower and different from the one shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly operatively connected to the rungs of a rung type ladder for support exteriorly of the ladder; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the rung type ladder leaning against a wall, showing the structure of Figure 3, including a different way of mounting the assembly on the ladder for supporting a plank or platform between the ladder and wall.

Patented May 16, 1961 ice Referring more particularly to the assembly exemplified in Figure 1 of the drawings, numeral 1 generally designates an elongated first support provided with an adjustable and/or pivotal fastener 2 adjacent one extremity, 3 an elongated second support provided with a pivotal fitting or fastener 4 adjacent one extremity, pivot means 5 pivotally connecting the opposite extremities of the supports, and a brace 6 pivotally connected to the support 3. As will be explained more in detail subsequently, the assembly is so designed and constructed that it can be adjusted and manipulated to cause the fasteners 2 and 4 to respectively receive upper and lower steps or rests 7 and 8 of a stepladder 9, as shown in Figure 1 and the upper part of Figure 2, to support a plank or platform 10 on the support 1 at a location exteriorly of the ladder, on upper and lower steps 11 and 12 adjacent the bottom of the ladder for supporting a plank 13 within the confines of the ladder as depicted in the lower part of Figure 2 or to the rungs or rests of a rung type ladder 14 as will be apparent when the structure disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 is later described.

The support 1 is preferably made straight and comprised of a pair of corresponding steel bar members 15 secured at one end by the pivot means 5 and by a bolt 16, or equivalent means, at the opposite end. A spacer 17 is secured between the bars by the pivot. means 5 which extends through the spacer and bars, and another spacer 18 is secured between the bars by the bolt 16 which extends through this spacer and bars for maintaining the bars in a stable parallel assembled relationship.

The adjustable fastener 2 may be designed and constructed in various ways but as depicted is preferably made to include an elongated element 19 provided with transverse holes 20 therein so that a pivot pin or bolt 21 can be selectively passed through these holes and any pair of aligned pairs of apertures 22 provided in the bars 15 in order that the element can be adjustably secured between the bars in any one of a plurality of longitudinal positions. The fastener may pivot relative to the support and also includes a holding member 23 preferably in the form of a hook which has a base portion welded to the underside of the element 19 so that the hook portion extends beyond one end of the element for embracing the rear edge of the step 7, as shown in Figure l. The width of the base portion of the holding member is preferably such that it will butt up against the underside of the bar members 15. In Figure l, the fastener 2 is secured relatively close to one end of the support, whereas in both of the installations illustrated in Figure 2, the fastener is secured farther inward from said end to accommodate leverage and weight factors as will be explained subsequently.

The support 3 may be designed and constructed in various ways but as illustrated, is preferably comprised of a pair of corresponding steel bar members which are formed with straight extremities 24 and divergent e."- tremities 25. These bars are preferably constructed from the same kind of stock that the bars of the support 1 are made from and fastened together in a predetermined spaced relationship by spacers 26 and 27 respectively secured between the straight extremities by a pin 28 and a bolt or pin 29 extending through the spacers and bars. The bolt or pin 29 extends through one pair of pairs of aligned apertures 38 provided in the bars to facilitate attachment of the support 1 or brace 6 thereto at any one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations depending on the manner in which the assembly is to be mounted. It will be noted that the straight extremities 24 straddle the support 1 and are pivotally connected thereto by the pivot means 5 as alluded to above.

The pivotal fastener 4 is preferably made in the form of a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of corresponding side portions 31 provided with depending holding or hook portions 32. A bridge 33 joining the side portions and apertured lugs 34 extending upwardly at an acute angle with respect to the side portions as clearly shown in Figure 1 so that bolts 35 can be extended through the apertures and also through offset ends 36 of the divergent extremities 25 to pivotally connect the fastener thereto. The fastener is preferably made relatively large so that it will find firm support on the step desired with the hook portions 32 embracing the fore or rear edge of the step depending on the installation to promote stability.

Referring now to the various ways in which the assembly can be adjusted for use in supporting a plank or platform with respect to the stepladder exemplified in Figures 1 and.2 of the drawing, Figure 1 shows the supports 1 and 3 pivotally connected at one end with the adjustable fastener 2 located relatively close to the free extremity of the support 1, with this fastener and the fastener 4 respectively hooked onto the steps 7 and 8 so that the supports project outwardly from the ladder in order that a plank may be mounted on the support '1 exteriorly of the ladder. Although only one ladder is shown it is to be understood that two are employed with an assembly on each ladder whereby the ends of the plank are supported by the assemblies as alluded to above. It is, of course, to be understood that the fasteners may be attached to any pair of adjacent steps or alternately to the steps if so desired. The assembly, as shown in Figure 1, is adjusted for mounting relatively close to the upper extremity of the ladder, and when so mounted the supports 1 and 3 project laterally outward from the ladder appreciable distances, so it is essential that they be located well within the space defined by the front uprights of the ladder and a vertical line X extending upwardly from the lower ends of the uprights as depicted in Figure 2, otherwise any weight placed on the plank would tip the ladder. As depicted in Figure 1, the hook portion of the fastener 2 engages the rear edge of the step 7 and the hooks 32 of the fastener 4 engage the fore edge of the lower step 8 to provide three positive interlocking connections with the ladder. The spacing between the connections is predetermined so as to impart stability to the assembly. The brace 6 is not employed when the assembly is attached to a stepladder and merely hangs in a non-interfering location.

As shown in the lower part of Figure 2, the assembly can be adjusted and reversed so that the supports 1 and 3 extend inwardly between the front and rear uprights of the ladder for supporting the plank therebetween. As mentioned above, in this particular setup the fastners 2 and 4 respectively engage the fore and rear edges of the steps 11 and 12 and the fastener 2 has been connected to the support 1 at a location somewhat closer to the pivot means 5, so that the plank is disposed closer to the front uprights of the ladder than it would be if the assembly as shovm in Figure 1 was merely reversed without adusting the fastener 2 for mounting on the ladder.

As exemplified in the upper part of Figure 2, the outer end of the support 1 is pivotally connected to the support 3 by the pivot means at a location spaced inwardly from the outer end of the support 3. In other words, one of the pair of outer apertures 30 in the bars of the support 3 are utilized to receive the pivot means 5.

When the supports and the fastener 2 are adjusted as shown in the upper part of Figure 2, the inner free extremity of the support 1 projects an appreciable distance between the front and rear uprights of the ladder and the free outer extremity of the support 3 projects angularly outwardly and upwardly beyond the outer end of the support 1.

This assembly is preferably adjusted for mounting on the ladder at substantially the location shown or at any higher elevation, and as set forth above, it is desirable that the plank 10 or the portions of the assembly that are adapted to bear the weight of the plank and/or an individual, for example, are located well within the area defined by the vertical line X and the front uprights of the ladder, because if the weight is to the left or outside of the line X the ladder will tip over.

As exemplified in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, the assembly is adjusted for mounting on either the rear or front side of the rung type of ladder 14, so that the support 3 serves to support a plank or platform 37 in lieu of the support 1.

More particularly in this regard and referring to Figure 3 and the upper part of Figure 4, the support 3 is turned upside down and connected adjacent the bolt or pin 29 to the outer end of the support 1. It will be noted that the fastener 2 is attached to the inner end of the support 1. With this setup the hook portion of the fastener 2 can be hooked over a round 38 of the ladder, the hooks 32 of the fastener 4 over a lower round 39 and a hooked end 40 of the brace 6 can be hooked onto the bridge 33 of the fastener 4 for operatively connecting the assembly to the outer side of the ladder so that the plank 37 can be placed on the support 3 between the support 1 and the ladder. The brace serves to prevent the support 3 from pivoting relative to the fastener 4 and vice versa.

The assembly as shown in Figure 3 may be mounted for projection from the front side of the ladder on any of the rounds and, of course, it is desirable that it be mounted back of a vertical line Y depicted in Figure 4, in order to provide stable supports for the plank.

The lower assembly shown in Figure 4 is mounted for projection from the rear side of the ladder between the ladder and a building wall 41 or other support for supporting a plank 42. The supports 1 and 3 of this assembly are connected at one end by the pivot means 5. This assembly may be operatively attached to any pair of adjacent rounds or alternately thereto as desired.

It will be noted that in the setups or arrangements shown in Figures 3 and 4 and in the upper part of Figure 2 that the plank or platform may be held against displacement by the support 1. It is to be understood that the holding or hooked portions on the fasteners 2 and 4 and brace may also be referred to as fasteners or connectors and that the fasteners may be referred to as connectors or fittings.

In view of the foregoing, it will be manifest that the assembly is comprised of a plurality of supports and other components which can be connected together in different unique operative relationship for attachment in various ways to different types of ladders for supporting a scaffold or platform.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention, and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A supporting assembly adapted for attachment to a ladder; said assembly comprising a pair of elongated supports pivotally connected at one end and provided with fasteners at their opposite ends for selective connection with different rests of a ladder for supporting a scaffold on one of the supports, one of said fasteners being pivotally connected to one of said supports and provided with connecting means, and a brace pivotally carried by one of the supports and provided with means for detachable connection with said connecting means on said pivotal fastener for holding the same against movement.

2. A subassembly of the kind described comprising a support comprised of a pair of elongated bars having straight extremities secured together in spaced parallel I61ati0I1ShiP for attachment with another support and divergent extremities having ends provided with apertures, a fitting having spaced apertured lugs thereon, means extending through all of the apertures pivotally connecting the fitting to the said ends of the divergent extremities, said fitting including a bridge and spaced fastening means for attachment with the rest of a ladder at spaced locations, an elongate brace having one end pivotally connected to the bars adjacent the junction between the straight and divergent extremities and its other end being provided with means for connection with said bridge to prevent said fitting from pivoting in one direction with respect to said elongate support.

3. An assembly of the kind described including an elongate substantially straight first support comprised of a pair of bars secured together in spaced parallel relationship throughout their lengths, said bars being provided with a pair of aligned openings, an elongate fastener adapted to overlie an upper rest of a ladder and provided with a portion adapted to hook over the rest, means extending through the openings and the fastener for connecting the latter to the bars, a second support comprised of a pair of elongate bars having straight extremities secured together and divergent extremities having ends provided with apertures, means extending through the first support and the straight extremities of the second support to pivotally connect the supports together, a fitting having a bridge and arms extending therefrom provided with apertures, means extending through the apertures in the ends of the divergent extremities and the apertures in the arms pivotally connecting the latter to said divergent extremities for movement about an axis transverse thereto, spaced hooks carried by the fitting adapted to hook over a lower rest at longitudinally spaced locations thereon, and an elongate brace having one end connected to the second support and its other end detachably engaging said bridge for locking the fitting against relative movement with respect to this support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,512 Long Nov. 27, 1888 510,194 Sellers Dec. 5, 1893 652,010 Wheeler June 19, 1900 1,468,412 Peters Sept. 18, 1923 1,474,289 Beimann Nov. 13, 1923 1,859,210 Madsen May 17, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 56,495 Norway Feb. 17, 1934 

